Method of and apparatus for the grading or sizing of materials of all kinds.



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.Q. PAYNE.

METHOD 0f AND APPARMUS FOR THE GRADING 0R SZING 0F MATERIALS 0F ALLKINDS.

RENEWED NOV. 3,191?.

APPLICATKN FILED DEC. 6. |916.

Patented Oct. 29, HHB.

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UNTTED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

.JARENCE Q. PAYNE, 0F NEW YORK, N.Y.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR THE GRADING OR SIZING QF MA'iIERIALS OF ALT.KINDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29. 1918.

Application iled December 6, 1916. Serial Nu. 135.334. Renewed November8, 1917. Serial No. 200.13%.

To aU whom 71mg/ voire/"n Be it, known that I, CLARENCE Q. PAYNE, acitizen oi the United tates. resiclii'ig in the borough of lllanhattan,eity, eounty.y and State of New. York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in ,Tvlethods of and Apparatus for the Grading;r orSizing;V of hlateiials of All Kinds, of which the following' is a fulland trite descriptionA My invention relates to a method of and apparatusfor sizing.y without the use of screens, of 11n-sized or erin-shedmaterials of all kinds, whereby the particles of dill'erent sizes are soaft-ted upon that they are enabled to arrange themselves in a series ofgroups. in each of which the individual particles are of approximatelyequal volumes or sizes.

My invention consists in acting upon material while it is being conveyedlengthwise of a transversely inclined warped or heliroidal surface, sothat ditferenoes in the statical moments, and in the rie'tionalresistancesof the different sized particles coinposing the materialcause them to more across the transporting surface at ditl'erent pointsthereof, and thus to separate them-V selves into a series of groups ofdifferent sized particles.

lt. also consists in means for varyi ne' the inV elination ofthewarpedor helicoidal surface 'as a Whole, so as to adapt it more perfectly tothe grading or sizing of dillerent. man rals in which the' relativeproper-tiem; ol' the coarse or tine sizes thereofvary widely.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures l and 2 illustrate the principlesinvolved when particles of different sizes roll and slide upon aninclined surface. Figs. 3 and 4 'illustrate the applieation of myinvention te a reeiprooating table. Fig. 5 shows in end view an inclinedendless belt. with its supporting frame and means for tilting the framesidewise so that the transverse inA rlinafion of the belt may be variedas a Figs. G, 7 and 8 illustrate in plan,v oud and side views theappliuation of in v inw vention to an inrlined endless belli, upon whichthe sizing takes place.

To illustrate more clearly the underlying principles embodied in myinventiornl have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 on 'a greatly enlarged scaleparticles of different sizes 'which rest.-

upon lnclined planes In Fig. l three particles, A, Band (i, of irregularsizes are assunied'to rest. upon an alpini. area repreA sentdintion bvthe lino -=E Tlf-e ffii bility of a particle resting upon such aninenables it to oppose against forces tending to overturn it, or toslide it along its support. The statieal moment is the measure it thestability of a particle, and is the produi't. of its Weight by thedistance Aof its lino o|` gravity from its edge of rotation. Whenresting on an inclined plane, the line i gravity falls toward the loweredge of the body, and the condition of not bein finerturned by its ownweight isithat the ine of gravity must fall Within this edge.

In the particular illustration of )articles of different sizes, such asA, B and Fig. whose centers of gravity are represented by G1. G2 and G,it, is clear that while the par ticle A is in a, condition of stableequilibrium, since its overturning is opposed by `the stati cal momentequivalent to the Weight .(.i mul-- tiplied by thejdistanee lil-E.thelargest particle C could not remain in the position shown in Fig. 15since its vertical line of gravity falls beyond the edge of rotation Fi.

` lt will thereforeroll down the incline X--l' by itsJ own vWeight. Theparticle B, on the other hand, is in a position of unstableeipiilibriuzn, since the vertical line through the renter of gravity Grpassesfthrough the edge of rotation E.. Its statieal moment hef ini;'/iero.y only a slight force will be required to overturn it and causeit to roll down the incline X-Y.

The above is intended to illustrate dia-` grammatieally what is also amatter ofronilnon observation; viz., that a large particle resting uponan inclined surface is in a-po s-tion of less stable equilibrium thanasrnall particle. Its center of gravity beingat a greater distance aboveyits point` of support5 it` .is more easily7 acted upon by jarringor byan overturning force. lt 'folloivsfroni the aboveconsiderations thatwhen the an- -gle ot' invlinntion of a smooth surface upon "g as iv Theronditi'o pfstabl llO (hat the component oi' the force tending to cuuscit to slide shall lie less than the prod uct of the weight of theparticle into the co illii-icut ol friction lieiu'eeu the hase of thcparticle and its supporting surface. 'l`his` coetlic'ii-iit of frictionis the tangent of thc :ingle ol repose. or the angle at which thesupportingrr surface inust lie raised hei'orithiA particle begins ioslide. if all friction could he eliminated between the base olthcpui-rieles :uid their supportingr surface, they would thi-ii all startat the saine. time and would more '.iith the saine velocity down the`'inclined .surface irrespective of their sin. Such a condition might, byway of illustration, be conceived of by assuming that the cushion ofsteam under globules oi Watei in ii spheroidal state on a hot platt doesaway with sliding friction. Glo nilo ofall sizes would then niovfilwithequal l'a cility `vvith the slightest` inclination oi the plate. 1n thecase of crushed orc partir-lcs resting upon a smooth surface. however1it is noticy-hle that small particles have a higher coe'ii ioni offriction than the large particles; i their angle of repose is Steeper.

If a smooth surface of almost any matcrial be examined with a magnifyingglass.` it is seen to have innumerable irregularities such as minute)its and hollovvs. and the smaller the particles which rest upon sltch asurface,y the more they are ahle to olitaii footholds for theirprojectini.r points and edges, and thus to resist motion. Such arelation is indicated approximately on an en '.arged scali` in Fig. 2.

It is the object of in v invention to utilize ditta-.ronces iiistability, both of rolling and of slidingr in the treatment of unsizedpar iii-lcs upon an inclined surface. in order to size them. as simplyand economically as possible. in accomplishing this purpose. I iniilicuse of a surface whose transverse in cliiiation progressively increasesas the ma terial is conveyed lengthwise thereof, so that particles` of adecreasing size are successively acted on and discharged at separateinter vals The object of iny invention can also be liest attained livavoiding mass action of the material undergoing sizing, although I amaware that this principle has heretofore been iuiploycd forsiniilaiwworlr ny other types of apparatus. My invention. onthccontrary. contemplates the treatment of the. material in a thin sheetat a high speed upon :i smooth surface, whose transverse.inclination isprogressively increased as the inate rial is conveyed in the directionof its length. Mv invention does not contemplate the use of surfaceshaving artificial roughnesses or irregularities such as eorrugations o`grooves1 which have heretiit'ore been prix posed to accomplish similarwork The process of sizing covered by my invention may lie` embodied invarious types of apparatus. two or' vliich are respectively illustratedin Figs. 3, 4, and in Figs. 5, (i, T and 8. (llhcr typos oriuodilications there-- of will .suggest themselves to those skilled inthe nrt ln Figs. i aud l a reciprocating table is shown whose surface A'is given a transverse iiulinatioii, and is .so curved that the angle ofinclination gradually increases from X1, i" io X" Y* Such a curvedsurface is technically dctiiied as ii warped or heli coidal surface..This is a special form of Warped surface` which is formed by a rightline generati-ix moving in Contact With-two directrices, one a rightlino and the other a line of double curvature such asthe arc of a helix.In operation the tablois given a reciprocating motion by means 0f anyconvenient head motion, indicated diagraminatically by TV, so as toimpart aslow forward and quick return inotlion to the table, in order toropel the material fed upon it in the direction of its length.

Upon feeding the unsized materiali upon the table A from the hopper H,the motion ot' the table causes the particles uickly to fan out as theymove lengthwise o? the table deck. In doing so the largest sizedparticles of the feed material are the first to start rolling andsliding across the table, since their statical moment is least upon amoving in clined surface, The largest particles therefore. reach thepoints 1, 2' at the edge of the table and are discharged. As thematerial moved farther and farther along the curved .surface of thetable deck, it n counters an increasing angular inclination in atransverse direction. This causes the next largest particles to hedischarged at the points 3 of the table edge, and so on until the finestof all ,the particles are removed at 7. t thus4 effecting a sizing ofthe material into as many groups ot' difieient sizes as ma i be desired.

n Figs. G. 7 and I have shown the principle of my invention applied toan endless belt conveyor. Here the end pulleys M and N support aconveyor belt 11 1n an inclined position by means of the fri11ne-R. Thisframe and accessory mechanical sup-4 ports are omitted in Figs. 'i' a'nd8 in order to show the helt more clearly. The belt may be of anyconvenient fiexible material suc 1 in leather, rubber, cotton, etc. It'is supported by a series of idlers L, L, betnveenv the, two end pulleysM and N, The front edge of the belt is preferably maintained in ahorizontal position as shown in Fig 7 for con vcnience in collecting thesized material dischargedfrom it.

The belt is driven in any convenient man-- ner as, for oxaiiiplc, bymeans of bevel gears S, S and a countershaft W, operated hy pulliv leyand belt from an outside source of power. The pulley N at the drivingend of the belt is maintained at a steeper angle than the ,pulley M atthe feed end. This disposition of the pulley and the intervenin idiersL, L, 'cansesthe upper surface ofi tie belt to occu y a twisted orcurved position, as indicate" nore clearly in Fig. 7 in end view.Suoliasurface becomes in effect a Warped or helicoidal surface, andparticles conveyed lengthwise thereof are supported upon a progressivelysteeper angle of the beit surface`,`as shown in end view ot' the heit.Fig. 7.

If,"tor example, the pulley, M. is supported at an angle of 250, withthe horizon, and pulley N at an annie of D, then the intermediate idiersL, il may he so placed as to divide the difference between these twoangles. viz., 20', uniformly among themselves, so that the transverseinclination of the belt surface will vary by uniform incr anents.

The rate of the transverse ahgular change of sucii'a surf: Je is definedby the frame and supporting roh rs, and is not conditioned by the rateof change in the preceding or foliowingsections of the surface. Theangles of the guide-rollcrs may therefore be independently varied inorder that the zones of separation included between cach pair of rollersmay be more perfectly adjusted to the separation of the component sizesof the inaterials to be graded.

ln operating this form of beit sizer, the material to he sized is tedtroni a hopper.` lle. through the regoli-ritmi;- gate K, upon the upperleft hand corner oi the belt l, which is caused to move in the directionot' thc arrow by means oi' the driviue' mechanism shown at the righthand end ot thc heit. the ,feed end ot' the bclt its transverseinclination is a minimum. and the coarcst particles of` the materialwhich cannot remain at resty upon such a slope. say 25",'are at oncedischarged across thc belt and arc collected in thc chute l. 'itli theadvance of thc matci'ial upon thc belt. it reaches and passes a positionoi' greater iuclinationM-say 12T where particles oll the next greatestsize are discharged by rolling and sliding across the hell into tlulclulttI 2. ln the same way pro- L'rcssivcli incr particles as tinvencounter sia-cessiveiy increasing inclinations otl thc bclt surface aredischarged from thc edge oi' the belt into the chutes il, i, fr. ctc..up to lo, liv shading alternate hands oi particles in Figs. and 7 asthey undergo sizing upon thc surface of the bell"` the action ot thcheit sizcr is indicated diagranunaticaily sonicwhat more clearly.

lt will be obvious that, where a. crushed material contains aprepondcrant amount of the tncr sizes, that the steeper slope of thehclt sim-r will he more in usc than the flatter slope. Also wlicrc lirematerial contains ,a larger proportion of coarse sizes, the flatterslope will then be in greater use. In order to adapt the sizer to a widerange of work, l tnd it desirable to adjust the transverse inclinationoi' the belt as a. whole so as to permit the initial and final angles ofthe belt slope to be more closely controlled. For this purpose, as shownin Fig. 5, the frame RR may be supported by pivoted bearings, 0, on onesid and by a series of adjusting screws Q. on the other, or anyequjvalent device, in order to vary the transverse inclination of thebelt as a whole in accomplishing the purpose described. ,liv thusvarying the transverse angle of inclination ot' the belt as a whole, andalso where it is necessary, by increasing the length ot' the belt andruiming it at a high speed, it becomes possible to subdividtI anyunsizcd aggregate ot' particles` into :is many closely sized groups asmay be desired.

llaving thus described my invention, I clann 1. 'lhe method ot' sizingmaterial composed ot' unsized particles which consists in rhin-ging itupon a transversely inclined surface no two consecutive rectilinearelements of which lie in the same plane, and which t'orms n warpedsurface, moving said surface longitudinally and causing said perf ticicsto occupy progressively increasing an- 95' gies of inclination upon saidsurface,v dis charging progressivelyv diminishing sized particlestransverseliv to the direction of inoA tion of said surface, andseparately collecting the different sized particles.

Z. The method ot' sizing material com posed otl particles ot' varyingsizes which` consists in charging it upon a surface having zones ofincreasing and separately var ing transverse,.llecliuations, varying the05` `gravitational -eft'ccts upon said particles by moving themlongitudinally thereon, discharging progressively decreasing sizesthin-cot transversely to theniotion of said material` and separatelycollecting the different sizes. l i,

3. lhc method of sizing'. materiel lcom posed of particles of varyingsizes which consists in charging it upOI) a, fleXi `le end-` less beit`whose surface is sub-divi yed lintenti zoncsotA increasing andseparatelyrvarying transverse declinations, varying the gravi tationaletiects upon said particles by movingr them longitudinally thereon,discharging progressively decreasin sizes thereof 152.0 transverselytothe motion o said material, and separately collecting the differentsizes.

4. The method of sizing material coniposed of unsized particles whichconsists in charging it upon a helicoidal surface having aeries of zonesofincrensng and separately ck" varying transverse declnatlons,conyeyingsaid material into positions of successively greaterdeclinations thereon, discharging 7 gradually decreasing sizes thereoftrans- 13d;

versely to the inotoii ol' said material, and separately collecting thedill'erentV sizes.

.3. The method of `sizing material coinposed of particles ol' diti'erentsizes, which consists iii charging a thin sheet of said ii|a terial upona smooth helieodial surface, eonveyiiig said material at a high speedinto ones ot' increasing and separatety varying,1 transversedeclinations thereon, tlisi-liargini gradually decreasing sizes thereof.transversely to the motion of said material, and separately collectingthe different sizes,

G. In an apparatus` for sizing material composed of unsized particles.the combination of a transversely inclined belt whose up per surfacefoi-nis a warped surface, means for charging the material to br sizedupon one end of said belt, means for moving the belt` longitudinally.and means` l'oil separatelil collect-ing the. diliereit sized paitiele-.as they are successively released and discharged transversely from saidbelt.

7. The method of sizing material com posed of particles of varyingsizes, uhieh consists in charging it upon the upper siiifacc of anendless belt which has a series oi zones ot increasing and separatelyvarying transverse declinations and forms a helieoi dal surface,coiiieying said material into positions of progressively greaterdeclination thereon, discharging gradually decreasing sizes thereoftransversely to the motion of said material and separately collectingthe different` sizes.

tt. In an apparatus for sizing material composed of particles ofrai-ying Isizes, a flexible support. the surf-.ice of which is t Vansversely inclined at an increasingr and tarying angle, in combinationwith means for moving said surface longitudinally, means for feeding thematerial to be sized upon said surface, and means for separatelycollecting the. different sized particles as they are released anddischarged from said sui= face.

9. 'In an apparatus for sizing material composed of particles ot varyingsizes, a fiexible endless belt whose `surface is trans`- verselyinclined at a gradually increasing and varying angle, in combinationwith means for moving said belt longitudinally, means for feeding thematerial to hn sized upon said surface, and means for separatelycollecting the different sized particles as they are released anddischarged transversely to the motion of said material.

10. In an apparatus for sizing n'iaterial composed of unsized particles,an endless belt whose upper surface forms a helicoidal surface, incon'ibinatioii with m ams for mo\VY ing said belt. longitudinally, meansfor feeding the material to be sized upon said belt, ind means forseparately collecting the dif ferent sized particles as they aredischarged from the belt.

l1. Iii an apparatus lor sizing material composed of unsized particles,an endless belt whose upper surface is inclined trans versely at aprogressively increasing angle, and forms a helicoidal .surface betweenits` end supports, in combination with means I'or :ioving said beltlongitudinally, means for feeding the material to be sized upon one endol' said belt, and means for separately collecting the ditl'ercnt sizedparticles as the)y aro progressively released and dischargedtransversely to the motion of said belt` l2. Iii an apparatus for sizingmaterial composed of unsized particles, an endless belt whose uppersurface is inclined transversely at a progressively increasing angle`and forms a helicoidal surface between its end supports so placed thatthe outer edge of said belt` occupies a horizontal position, incoiiibii'iation with nians for moving said belt longitudinally, meansfor feeding the material to be sized upon one end of said ielt, andmeans for separately collecting the ditl'erent sized particles as theyare progressively released and discharged transversely to the motion ofsaid belt,

12S. ln an apparatus for sizing material composed of particles ofvarying sizes, an endless belt whose surface is supported upon a seriesof guide-rollers which are transversely declined at increasing andseparately varying aiigles, in combination with means for feeding thematerial to the end of the belt having the zone of least declination,

means for conveying said material into theJJ 100 zones of increasingdeclination, and means for separately collecting the different sizes asthey are discharged transversely to thel motion of said material.

(LARENCIJ t), AYN tu. Witnesses WAL'rEii S. .los u., OLIVER M.liiNnjiNo'roN.

